Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1904’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ is disclosed, characterized by a combination of a rosette-shaped plant habit, and round foliage colored shades of greyed-green with dark greyed-green venation. The new variety is a Peperomia, typically used as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Peperomia caperata.

Variety denomination: ‘EC-PEPE-1904’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety was selected as a seedling resulting from the crossing of twounnamed, unpatented varieties of Peperomia caperata. The crossing wasmade by the inventor, Obed J. Smit in 2014. ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ was selectedby the inventor in 2017 at a commercial greenhouse in Sappemeer, theNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ by leaf cuttingswas first performed in Sappemeer, the Netherlands at a commercialgreenhouse in March 2017 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘EC-PEPE-1904’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ as a new and distinctPeperomia cultivar:

-   -   1. Round-shaped leaves.    -   2. Grey-green foliage with dark greyed-green veins.    -   3. Rosette-shaped plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety has round leaves, while the seed parent has        less rounded leaves with a pointed tip.    -   2. Leaf upper side of the new variety has different shades of        grey-green, while leaves of the seed parent are more solid grey.    -   3. The new variety has puckered leaves with deeper-lying veins,        while the seed parent has smooth leaves.    -   4. The new variety has irregular veins, while the seed parent        has parallel veins.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ are similar to plants of themale parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf upper side of the new variety has different shades of        grey-green, while leaf upper side of the pollen parent is green.    -   2. Leaves of the new variety are larger than leaves of the        pollen parent.    -   3. The new variety has a more dense rosette habit than the        pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety Peperomia caperata ‘Eden Rosso’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,379. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf upper side of the new variety has different shades of        grey-green, while the leaf upper side of this comparator is dark        green.    -   2. Leaf under side of the new variety is green, while leaf under        side of this comparator is red.    -   3. Leaves of the new variety are round, while leaves of this        comparator are oblong with pointed tip.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ are similar to plants of thevariety Peperomia ‘Napoli Nights’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,416. However,plants of the new cultivar differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf upper side of the new variety has different shades of        grey-green, while the leaf upper side of this comparator is        evenly grey.    -   2. Leaves of the new variety are round, while leaves of this        comparator are oblong with a pointed tip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical blooming plant of ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ grown in a greenhouse. Theplant is approximately 30 weeks of age.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ plants at 52 weeks of age,grown in a greenhouse in Sappemeer, the Netherlands during August of2019. The growing temperature ranged from 17° C. to 20° C. at night to19° C. to 21° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia caperata ‘EC-PEPE-1904’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21 days at approximately 20° C. in    Summer.-   Time to produce rooted cutting: About 25 days at 20° C. in Summer.-   Description of roots: Herbaceous, fine, moderately dense, freely    branching. White in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S.    chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial potted plant.-   Plant shape: Flattened globular.-   Growth habit: Rosettes of leaves forming very short thick stems.-   Plant spread: Approximately 32.5 cm.-   Height: 16 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Growth rate: Moderate to high.-   Plant vigor: Moderate.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 52 weeks from a rooted    cutting.-   Branching habit: Leaves arranged in rosettes, rosettes form very    short thick main stems, branching into lateral rosettes of leaves.-   Pinching: Not required.-   Number of primary (main) branches per plant: Average 22.-   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant: Average 10.-   Lateral stems:    -   -   Length.—Average: 2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average: 0.8 cm.-   Internode length: Average: Less than 0.1 cm.-   Appearance and shape: Succulent, thick and rounded.-   Luster: Slightly glossy.-   Aspect/angle from vertical: Average 20°.-   Strength: Moderately strong.-   Color:    -   -   Developing.—RHS Yellow-Green 148C.        -   Mature.—RHS Yellow-Green 148B to 148C.        -   At internodes.—RHS Yellow-Green 148B to 148C.-   Pubescence: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Quantity.—Average 12.        -   Average length.—5.6 cm.        -   Average width.—5.1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Cordate, perfoliate.        -   Apex.—Broad, bluntly acute.        -   Base.—Cordate, lobes connected thus forming perfoliate leaf.        -   Margin.—Entire, moderately revolute.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly convexed.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, smooth, moderately            leathery, strongly bullate.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous, smooth, moderately            leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Luster, upper side.—Glossy.        -   Luster, under side.—Very slightly glossy, velvety.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Greyed-Green 190B and            190C, veined Green NN137B to NN137C. Young foliage under            side: RHS Yellow-Green 147D, main veins tinged Greyed-Purple            183D. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Greyed-Green 188B and            N189D. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147D.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel, strongly furrowed. Venation color            upper side: RHS Greyed-Green N189A. Venation color under            side: RHS Greyed-Purple 183B.        -   Petiole.—Average. Length: 12.6 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Texture:            Glabrous, smooth. Strength: Low. Luster: Both sides            moderately glossy. Color, upper side: RHS Yellow-Green            N148B, moderately finely striped Greyed-Red 182A, more            densely towards distal end. Color, under side: RHS            Yellow-Green N148B, moderately finely striped Greyed-Red            182A, more densely towards distal end.

FLOWER

-   No flowers observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: None observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: No increased nor decreased resistance to    normal diseases and pests of Peperomia has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures up to 40° C., hardy to    at least USDA zone 10. High wind tolerance.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Peperomia plantnamed ‘EC-PEPE-1904’ as herein illustrated and described.